Collapsible crate



Filed Sept. 7, 1965 0 M w Q. 4 a 9 Z mam -\m 3L 2 7 7 Z United States Patent 3,339,776 COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Kelley R. Young, West Covina, Califi, assignor to Precision Component Packaging Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 485,499 2 Claims. (Cl. 217-12) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a container having smooth interior surfaces and is adapted to be rapidly assembled and dis-assembled. The structure includes side and end panels, the panels each including novel arrangements of cleats whereby top frames each provided with closing panels are associated with the cleats on the side and end panels to provide maximum bracing of the associated parts. The structure also includes corner braces each having flanges for securing to the top of the top frames to lock the parts in place and inwardly turned flanges spaced from the inner facesof the top frames, whereby the top frames can be slid into position with the side and end panels movable between inwardly projecting flanges of the cleats and the inner faces of the top and bottom frames to secure the parts in firm position,

This invention relates to a crate for shipping goods and has for an object to provide such a structure that, while rigid and strong in use, is easily separated into components to enable inspection of its contents, unloading, stacking of items while loading, and generally providing access to the interior.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crate, as above characterized, that is easily re-assembled, after separation and/or removal 'of the components thereof, to restore the crate to its original closed, rigid condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knockdown crate that is self-locked, merely requiring encircling bands or straps to retain the components in locked assembly.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The above objects are realized in a crate structure that comprises similar sides, separate similar ends in rectilinear arrangement with said sides, and similar top and bottom caps having nesting engagement with the opposite end edges of said sides and end. The caps are provided with corner means that retain the sides and ends against inward displacement.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description and which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partly broken away, showing a collapsible crate according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational thereof to a reduced scale showing bands to retain the crate components in assembly.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the panel-retaining corner elements.

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The collapsible crate that is illustrated comprises, generally, two similar sides 5, two similar ends 6 in rectilinear arrangement with said sides 5, and similar top and bottom caps 7 having nesting engagement with the opposite end edges of said sides 5 and ends 6, said caps, at each corner thereof, being provided with means 8 to retain the sides and ends against inward displacement. The above components 5, 6 and 7 are retained in assembly by bands 9 of conventional design.

Each side 5 comprises a rectangular panelor wall 10 of any suitable panel of material, as cardboard, plywood and other laminated material, and preferably wooden cleats 11 afiixed, as by staples 12, to the end edge portions 13 of wall 10. The cleats 11 are shorter than the height of wall 10, and the same are applied so the ends of the cleats are spaced from the top and bottom edge portions 14 of wall 10. Thus, the wall 10 is provided with top and bottom portions that are continuous from edge to edge 13, without cleats or other interruptions. The outer faces 15 are flush with the edges 13 to which they are secured.

Each end 6 comprises a rectangular wall 16 of the same material as walls 10 of the same height as the latter walls, but varying in width, as desired, and preferably wooden cleats 17 aflixed, as by staples 12, to the side edge portions 18 of wall 16. Said cleats 17 are the same length as the cleats 11 and are applied with relation to the top and bottom edges 19 'of Walls 16 in the same way that cleats 11 are applied with relation to edges 14. Said cleats 17 are applied so as to extend beyond the edges 18 a distance equal to the sum of the thicknesses of each of the walls 10 and cleats 11 on the edges 13 of said wall.

As can be seen for FIG. 1, the outer faces 20 of the cleats 11 and the edge faces 21 of the cleats 17, are flush when the side walls 5 and end walls 6 are in rectilinear arrangement with the edge portions 13 of the former abutted against the edges 18 of the latter. Also, it will be clear that the upper and lower edge portions of the walls 10 and 16 form uninterrupted rectangular collars beyond the opposite ends of the cleats 11 and 17.

Each cap 7 comprises a rectangular panel 21 that corresponds in perirnetric size and shape to the rectangle that is described by the outer faces 20 and 21, at the sides, and the outer faces 22 of the cleats 17 at the ends, and a rectangular frame 23 that has an outer perimetric size flush with that of the panel 21 and an inner perimetric size to have a sliding fit over the mentioned collars formed at the opposite ends of the assembled sides 5 and ends 6. Said frame 23 is made up of wooden members 24 at the sides, and 25 at the ends, these members and the cleats 11 and 17 preferably being made of the same material. The panels 21 are aflixed to the frame members 24 and 25 by staples 12, as hereinbefore mentioned, for securing the cleats 11 and 17 to their respective walls or panels.

The means 8 is shown as a corner member that comprises right angle sides 26 with outturned edges 27, and flanges 28 at right angles to the planes of the sides 26. Sheared and bent prongs 29 extend from the flanges in parallelism with the sides 26. These members are applied to each corner of both caps and aflixed to the cap frames 23 by means of the prongs 29, before the panels 21 are stapled in place. Said members are so applied that the sides 26 thereof are spaced from the frame members 24 and 25 to provide spaces 30 large enough to accommodate the thickness of walls 10 or 16, as the case may be. It will be clear that the outturned edges 27 facilitates the assembly and that the opposite edges 14 and 19 of the respective walls 10 and 16 are retained against inward displacement.

It will be understood that walls of greater than normal width maybe provided with reinforcement in the form of intermediate cleats. Also, such wider Walls may re quire members similar to members 8, but straight, and used between the corners, to retain such Walls against inward flexure.

It will be noted that the inner surfaces of the walls 5 and 6 and the caps 7 have no ledges at the corners. Efficient loading is thus rendered easy.

The assembled crate is then provided with bands 9 that preferably encircle the crate around the cleats 11 and the portions of the caps aligned with said cleats. FIG. 1 shows how ready access is had to the interior of the crate by removing one cap and partly or Wholly removing one of the side walls.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising:

(a) a pair of side sections,

(-b) a pair of end sections,

(c) a bottom section and a top section,

(d) said side sections having on the outer surface of their end portions elongated cleats shorter than the width of the side panel portions and positioned intermediate the end edges of said panel portions with the outer faces of the cleats and panels flush,

(c) said end sections having on their end portions cleats shorter than the width of the end panels and positioned intermediate the edges thereof and projecting 'be'yond said'side edges a distance equal to the com-' bined thickness of the cleats and panel at the ends of the said side panels to overlie the same when the end panels and side panels are assembled,

(f) top and bottom cap frames for enclosing the side and end panels and adapted to seat upon the ends of the cleats on the side and end panels,

(g) a closure for each of said cap frames secured to the outer face of each frame, and

(h) metal angle pieces fixed to each corner of said cap frames comprising flanges fixed to the 'outer faces of the frames at each corner and inwardly projecting flanges spaced from the inner faces of the top and bottom cap frames a distance to receive and support the marginal portions of the side and end panels.

.2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that each inwardly projecting angle of each of the flanges of the angular members include inturned lip portions to facilitate the insertion of the panel members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,398,371 11/1921 Goedeke 21769 1,538,211 5/1925 Pinkerton 217-12 1,602,818 10/1926 Geddes 217-12 1,916,580 7/1933 Newhouse 217--69 2,939,601 6/1960 Evans et al. 217-12 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF SIDE SECTIONS, (B) A PAIR OF END SECTIONS, (C) A BOTTOM SECTION AND A STOP SECTION, (D) SAID SIDE SECTIONS HAVING ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THEIR END PORTIONS ELONGATED CLEATS SHORTER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SIDE PANEL PORTIONS AND POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE EDGES OF SAID PANEL PORTIONS WITH THE OUTER FACES OF THE CLEATS AND PANELS FLUSH, (C) SAID END SECTIONS HAVING ON THEIR END PORTIONS CLEATS SHORTER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE END PANELS AND POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE EDGES THEREOF AND PROJECTING BEYOND SAID SIDE EDGES A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE COMBINED THICKNESS OF THE CLEATS AND PANEL AT THE ENDS OF THE SAID SIDE PANELS TO OVERLIE THE SAME WHTN THE END PANELS AND SIDE PANELS ARE ASSEMBLED, (F) TOP AND BOTTOM CAP FRAMES FOR ENCLOSING THE SIDE AND END PANELS AND ADAPTED TO SEAT UPON THE ENDS OF THE CLEATS ON THE SIDE AND END PANELS, (G) A CLOSURE FOR EACH OF SAID CAP FRAMES SECURED TO THE OUTER FACE OF EACH FRAME, AND (H) METAL ANGLE PIECES FIXED TO EACH CORNER OF SAID CAP FRAMES COMPRISING FLANGES FIXED TO THE OUTER FACES OF THE FRAMES AT EACH CORNER AND INWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGES SPACED FROM THE INNER FACES OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM CAP FRAMES A DISTANCE TO RECEIVE AND SUPPORT THE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF THE SIDE AND END PANELS. 